The nightclub energy at the Clevelander rooftop terrace camouflaged its danger. Loud music coursed through the concrete beneath the clicks of high heels and the taps of men’s dress shoes. A constant stench of stale dried up beer permeated the bar tops. The heavy smell of hot oil fused with the hot breeze as endless appetizers were fried back…
An Unexpected Dinner Party – Part II
“I hope you don’t mind. I took the liberty of selecting a wine to go with our steak tonight,” Lee grabbed the wine bottle then reached into his pants pocket and retrieved a Swiss Army knife. “This 2010 Argentinian Malbec was a gift from a buddy on the second floor that just returned from a…
An Unexpected Dinner Party
Rosalia Cabrera pressed a freshly manicured finger against the Crawford’s penthouse doorbell. And before Rosa could readjust her hubby, Adriano’s dinner jacket, Cassandra, the stunning beauty from their elevator encounter, answered the call. She threw the double doors wide open. Her smile was broader, more honest, and more welcoming than Rosalia remembered. Rosa hated and…
A Latina’s Cultural Education Continues
I am sadly aware of the misconception that the term Latina/Latino or LatinX is believed to be a blanket descriptor for all latin cultures around the world. Unfortunately, this one-size-fits-all approach or perspective leads people to misinformation like “all Latinos eat tacos” or “all Latinos dance salsa” and one of my absolute favorites, “all Latinos…
No “Otherness” Allowed
I recall with shame squandering the better part of my youth learning how to shed my Cuban coat to conceal my otherness. But, I couldn’t exactly change my skin color or hide my high check bones, pronounced jaw line, large dark eyes, and long, wavy, black hair that outed me as some exotic Spanish gypsy….
Because One Cupcake Is Never Enough
AN EXCERPT FROM MY 3rd NOVEL: ONCE UPON A CUPCAKE SHOP Available through: https://amzn.to/2O0b96E THAT NIGHT, after showering in the old, upstairs apartment, Eva found herself renewed with the romance of the open-market adventure. She couldn’t stop humming her favorite song in the rundown kitchen of her new shop. The lyrics of Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville rattled around…
Zen Master Bob – Walking the Path
A year ago, when Julian was in the dumps about Lucas’ workplace affair, his then bestie recommended he see a renowned Zen master who was said to work miracles in the area of self-discovery and healing. After just a month, Julian managed to forgive Lucas and make a full recovery from the emotional trauma. Julian…
Hunting for More
The young woman set out for her customary morning ride after a cup of French Roast and a few forbidden drags of a cigarette. The grass wet from the previous night’s rainfall, splashed up as her horse raced forward. Tall furs lined both sides of the dirt road, forming a straight path toward the seaside…
A Short Story of Racism & Appropriation
CELEBRATING CINCO DE WHAT? I ducked under a low-hanging paper banner strung across the entrance of Lou’s Bar & Grill. Dangling rows of the same paper banner hung from every wall inside the place. Black flag cutouts displaying skulls and skeletal faces painted in neon white. A bigger banner of dead bones lit up the…
“Tell Me a Story”
OUR FASCINATION WITH STORIES GOES BACK AS FAR AS THE ORIGINS OF HUMANKIND We ARE the stories we tell. And, we can’t get enough of them. The human race has been dazzled and charmed by the power of the narrative since the days our ancestors sat around the fire to captivate and entertain us with…